This February, the MCM learning community gathered for our beautiful Winter 2024 Residency. The week was filled with learning, networking, and even a trip to a nuclear reactor! Our MCM students and alumni didn’t just brave the cold – they thrived in it.
Read on to learn about the experiences and events that made this Residency special.
Our first-year students wrapped up their courses in Financial Reporting and Management Accounting with Adam Prokop and Organizational Public Relations with Dr. Terry Flynn, APR, FCPRS. Second-year students kicked off the week by delivering their final presentations in Marketing Management with Mo Dezyanian and Data Science and Analytics for Communications Management with Dr. Alex Sévigny, APR. The presentations in Dr. Sévigny’s data science class were so good that he encouraged the students to compile the best papers into a peer-reviewed, edited issue of the McMaster Journal of Communication – an international, student-run journal published by the McMaster University Library. Chantal Sweeting, Kevin Floether and Paola Morrone stepped up to be the special issue editors — so watch for a new issue in the months to come.
Professor Adam Prokop assisting students in Financial Reporting and Management Accounting (COM MGMT 722).
Professor Josie Cassano Rizzuti observes discussion in COM MGMT 723
Our first-year students started their new term exploring the fascinating landscape of finance, from traditional methods to emerging trends in blockchain, AI and crypto, in Financial Management with professor Josie Cassano Rizzuti, MCM, APR. Students also started investigating the opinion and market research industry, which includes learning about the nature, formation, and communication of attitudes and public opinion in Public Relations Research, led by professor Dave Scholz, MA, APR. These courses were supported by dedicated MCM tutorial assistants Gerald Mak and Danielle Cowen, respectively, also MCM alumni themselves.
This unique blend of academic rigor and real-world expertise is what sets the MCM program apart.
Professor Dave Scholz leads a discussion in Public Relations Research (COM MGMT 712)
Dr. Terry Flynn listens to respond to a question in Applied Ethics in Communications Management (COM MGMT 715)
Our second-year students engaged in deep discussions about strategic management with professor Mark John Stewart, MBA, ICD.D (and teaching assistant Merissa King) and the role of ethics in communications, guided by Dr. Terry Flynn, APR, FCPRS (and teaching assistant Amanda Richardson). Students in Dr. Flynn’s class will develop their own personal ethical decision-making framework in addition to writing the first draft of their organization’s ethical use of Generative AI policies. This year the strategic management course includes a unique cross-faculty collaboration with McMaster Nuclear Operations and Facilities (NOF). McMaster University is Canada’s nuclear university, and after visiting the McMaster Nuclear Reactor during residency, MCM strategic management students are now working on an interdisciplinary case study focused on real world commercialization questions faced by NOF.
Strategic Management (COM MGMT 721) class poses for a photo after visiting the McMaster Nuclear Reactor
Blair Peberdy, APR, FCPRS, and Dr. Terry Flynn in discussion during the winter residency keynote.
Our Winter Residency included more than just academics. Students enjoyed a wonderful meal and insightful conversation during our Saturday night gala dinner at the historic Liuna Station, a splendid venue on James Street North in downtown Hamilton. Our keynote speaker, Blair Peberdy, APR, FCPRS, Senior Vice President, Regulatory, Government & Corporate Relations, Alectra, delivered a presentation focusing on advising the C-suite and providing strategies for effective executive communications. Our MCM Master Class featured a conversation with Andrea Zeffiro (associate professor, Department of Communication Studies and Media Arts, and academic director for the Lewis and Ruth Sherman Centre for Digital Scholarship) about leveraging the services of the Centre for MCM coursework and capstone projects.
Andrea Zeffiro presenting to MCM candidates on the services available at the Lewis and Ruth Sherman Centre for Digital Scholarship.
Social events and healthy meals fostered a sense of community and camaraderie among students, faculty, and alumni, reinforcing the MCM’s core values of lifelong learning and professional growth. On Wednesday, we had our traditional ‘alla prossima’ pub night at the Phoenix Bar and Grill on McMaster campus.
As we look ahead, the anticipation for the Summer 2024 Residency is already building. We’re excited to welcome everyone back for another session of learning and professional development.
In the meantime, we applaud the achievements of our community and are grateful for the hard work of everyone involved in making this residency a success. We wish continued success to our whole MCM community: students, faculty, staff and alumni – we can’t wait to see what the next residency brings!
